Lumberjacks win Sunday, earn weekend split at North Shore

LYNN, Mass. – The Bangor Lumberjacks finished their weekend series against the North Shore Spirit on a winning note as they defeated North Shore 11-3 at Fraser Field Sunday afternoon.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Bangor and four-game winning streak for the Spirit.

Bangor improves its record to 9-8 in the Northeast League’s North division while North Shore goes to 11-5.

The Lumberjacks lost Saturday night’s game 10-6 despite a 13-hit attack as starter Adam Thomas was battered for eight hits and seven earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

On Sunday, Bangor started quickly with three runs in the first inning. It scored at least one run in each of the first four innings.

Outfielder Derry Hammond hit his second home run in two days and Jake Whitesides drove in three runs with a single. Other hitting stars for Bangor included shortstop Shin Uchino, who had two doubles and scored four runs, and Mark Burke, who doubled twice and drove in two runs.

Bangor starter Lance Calmus allowed eight hits and three runs in six innings to improve his record to 2-1.

John Boker, John Parker and Jason Gangemi combined to pitch three innings of one-hit relief.

On Saturday, a six-run fourth inning on just four hits erased a 4-1 Bangor lead and propelled the Spirit to victory. The key hit in the inning was Frank Charles’ two-run double.

Catcher Onix Mercado went 5-for-5 with a double, four singles, and three RBIs to lead the Spirit. Vic Davilla was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Aaron Dean pitched eight innings and allowed four runs on 10 hits.

Jose Garcia led the Lumberjacks at the plate by going 4-for-5 with a double, three singles and two RBIs. Uchino had a triple, double and a single to score twice and drive in one run.

Bangor travels to Montreal for a four-game series with the Quebec Capitales starting Monday. The Lumberjacks return to Bangor Friday to open a six-game homestand.

Sea Dogs 4, Rock Cats 3

PORTLAND – Jimmy Alvarez drove in two runs with a single down the right-field line to cap a three-run rally in the ninth inning as the Portland Sea Dogs beat the New Britain Rock Cats 4-3 Sunday in the Eastern League.

Mike O’Keefe homered for Portland and Raul Nieves knocked a pair of hits and scored a run.

Luis Maza belted a homer, triple and double in New Britain’s loss.

Portland (29-33) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when O’Keefe’s high fly hit barely cleared the right-field fence.

Maza tripled and scored as New Britain (29-31) tied it 1-1 in the sixth. B.J. Garbe’s RBI double sent the Rock Cats ahead 2-1 in the seventh and Maza’s homer made it 3-1 in the eighth.

Trailing by two in the ninth, Portland’s rally was powered by singles by Nieves and Joe Kilburg and aided by a hit batsman and a wild pitch.

Alvarez’s single scored Nieves from third base with the tying run and Kilburg scampered home from second with the game-winner.